Testimonials

Juan

Mary's skills and professionalism led to numerous milestones in my case that I believe are rarely seen in family law cases in Florida. Ultimately, she navigated the legal system and used inconsistencies in my wife's financial statements along with testimonial discrepancies to show her intention to be untruthful about her financial state and employment status. This led me to be released from any alimony responsibilities.
Read more- Juan

Debbie

I retained Mary's services based on a recommendation from a very good friend. The superior services of Mary Quinn far exceeded my expectations of the divorce process. She listened carefully to what I had to say and worked with me to always to what is best for my child. Mary's diligence and incredible knowledge of the process moved my case forward in a very timely manner.
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Surviving the Holidays During a Divorce

All around Tampa, Christmas trees are being lit, menorahs are being polished, and unity cups and kinaras are being set on display. Throughout the hustle and bustle of what is generally seen as a season of togetherness and family, many people are facing the holidays while going through a divorce. The holiday season can be stressful as it is; add a divorce to the mix and it’s enough to make anyone raise a white flag.

While divorce is often seen as a breaking or an ending, it can also be an intense period of renewal and rebirth. Part of that energy can be imparted into breathing new life into the holidays and reshaping them to fit your needs. You can survive the holidays—even while divorcing.

7 Tips for Surviving the Holidays During a Divorce

1. Identify stressors and eliminate as many as possible.

Stress adds up quickly during the holidays. We get it at work, at home, from family, and from friends. During a divorce, however, that stress can seem magnified. To keep from being overwhelmed, identify different things or activities that are generating stress and consider how many can be eliminated. It’s ok to skip the White Elephant gift exchange or cut back on how many treats you bake. Give yourself permission to say no to some activities or events so you can be sure you have the energy for others.

2. Make a plan.

Identifying the events and traditions you want to uphold can help you create a plan that gets you through to January. Take a look at your calendar and pencil in any events. If you won’t be celebrating with your kids, what can you do instead? What are your favorite holiday activities? Make sure to write those down in pen!

In addition, consider what you will do when you feel sad, lonely, or overwhelmed? Who will you call?

3. Communicate with your co-parent.

If you have children, it’s important to keep your co-parent in the loop for certain plans. This is likely the last thing you want to do, however, in order to establish the new role of co-parents and to ensure your children have a nice holiday, communicating and cooperating are necessary. Make the kids the focus of the conversation and keep things civil.

4. Surround yourself with a support network.

You may feel like you’re bumming out your friends with your divorce or that no one wants to be around you. That’s not the case. Make plans with loved ones and celebrate being together. Understand that they care about you, even while you are going through a tough time.

5. Craft new traditions.

6. Take care of yourself.

During the holiday season, we tend to focus on others. In order to nurture strength and fortitude, however, it’s important to invest in yourself. Make sure to take the time to participate in activities that matter to you and that help you recharge your batteries, whether it’s exercising, reading, or taking a hot bath.

7. Take it a day at a time.

One day’s stress doesn’t have to carry over into the next. Take every day as a new opportunity. Reach out to your support network as necessary.

Evaluating your expectations and make a concerted effort to set new, realistic expectations for the holiday season can go a long way towards making the next few weeks better. Remember to focus on the joy of what you have and to set aside any worry or stress your divorce may be causing you, if only temporarily.

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Quinn & Lynch, P.A. is located in Tampa, FL and serves clients in and around the greater Tampa Bay areas.

Attorney Advertising. This website is designed for general information only. The information presented at this site should not be construed to be formal legal advice nor the formation of a lawyer/client relationship.